Point me in the right direction

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devin.dorman

New Member
Hey all,

This is my second post. Said my hello in the other section. I've been wading through multirotor info for the past few days, and while I think I grasp a little of the basics of what some of you all are accomplishing with your birds, I'd love some direct input on the kind of setup I'd be looking at and a potential budget for what I'm trying to build.

First of all a 250 racer looks really fun, and that will come eventually.

The main project for me right now is that I would like to build something I can use as a range scout. I do long range rifle competition, and I'd like to build something that could fly downrange to assess targets out to a .75-1 mile and give me both recorded images/video and fpv of said targets. From what I gather, that's a pretty long way to fly even for todays technology. So, I might be asking for more than what is possible within a reasonable budget. Another thing that I thought would be extremely useful is if I could configure GPS waypoints... Say shooter location and safe target location so that the bird could hover at the target for a brief time to assess impact of bullet on steel targets at various ranges.

Any helpful information you can give or relevant links will be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for all the helpful info I've found on this site already.
 

Motopreserve

Motopreserve

Drone Enthusiast
First, welcome to Multirotorforums.com.

I think the variables you want to get specific about for your needs are A) whether there will be obstacles between you and the downfield targets and B) how long will you have to linger at the location(s) once you get there (so total time per flight).

FPV transmitters can definitely broadcast back to you from a mile out - but whether there are obstacles (and if that distance will grow) will determine what frequencies you'd need to operate on.

The second issue is a bit more complex. It requires designing the craft to be able to handle the payload you want to carry, have long enough flight time for the distance you need to travel and get back. That is a delicate dance between all-up weight (AUW) and battery capacity.

Waypoints are a product of the type of flight controller. The APM line of software/hardware has been leading the charge in this area. The pixhawk (and soon the pixhawk 2???) would be the one to check out.

All this is possible. Just requires some details to hone in on the best choices.
 

JoeBob

JoeBob

Elevation via Flatulation
Good idea. The range should be an excellent place to fly, open with grass to crash in. Depending on how tall the grass gets, you may want to consider a Marco Polo pet finder on your MR to speed recovery.

You won't need a large MR to carry a Mobius or GoPro camera. That 250 class you're thinking about can do it. I second the Pixhawk recommendation above. You can program an auto mission to zip your MR downrange, hover in front of the target at a set altitude (plus or minus a few meters, unless you add Lidar or sonar for more accurate height control), facing in a set direction, staying for a set amount of time for your to study your monitor, and then return.

You will need a decent strength video transmitter and a directional antenna on your video receiver, like a yagi. If you wind up observing impacts, beware of the spalling metal fragments that will be scattering in every direction.
 

SleepyC

SleepyC

www.AirHeadMedia.com
Dude the new Phantom Basic or what ever the cheap one would do this no problem. $799.
 

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devin.dorman

New Member
What I've decided to try for an intro to test for functionality is the
HK quanum nova rtf equipped with

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/..._FPV_Goggle_V2_w_5_inch_LCD_Monitor_Kit_.html

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...o_Transmitter_FatShark_compatible_600mw_.html

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...y_5_8GHz_32Ch_Auto_Scan_LCD_A_V_Receiver.html

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...cular_Polarized_SpiroNet_Antenna_V2_SMA_.html

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...OS_FPV_Camera_NTSC_PAL_with_Pan_and_Tilt.html

I feel like this will check some boxes for me, and the run the will be limited, but I can bring some extra batteries.

I've got this stuff on the way. How do you all feel this will serve me as an intro into the field? I realize that it won't likely meet all I'm looking for, but I'm thinking this will give me an idea of what I'm getting myself into and I can see it off to a jealous range buddy later on when I decide it doesn't do all that I want.

The range in which I shoot for training where this will be flying is completely clear but for the Dirt mounds where steel targets are setup every 100 yards. It should be easy enough to develop a fligh path where it could go all the way down and back without changing altitude or x axis to get to its destination to avoid an obstacle.
 


Motopreserve

Motopreserve

Drone Enthusiast
While the Quanum looks exactly like a Phantom - realize that it is using an APM flight controller. So for waypoints, this could be the perfect choice. But the learning curve will be steeper than a Phantom which employes a fairly simple setup FC.

Plenty of help to be had here on the forum, so you should be on your way.

Congratulations, and let us know how it goes.
 


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devin.dorman

New Member
Thanks for the responses. I'll have to take a look at those antennas. Especially if I find video to be unacceptable at distances I'm trying to accomplish.

From what I'm understanding. The only GPS functions I'll have with the nova will be return to home and hold without purchasing a telemetry system in which I'll use a laptop to control the nova on a mission path I'll generate with software that's available. Using a set like this? http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...try_Radio_Set_V2_915Mhz_.html?strSearch=500mW
 

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